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Although the draft is not a pure science and it is hard to remember our biggest need back then, in hindsight I think we passed on some good players. Our LB and secondary was more stout and younger but would love to have a few of these players now.

Of all our recent #1 draft picks, I think Ziggy might be the most disappointing.

tough times ahead for Colbert and the front office in the years ahead

It's no secret the Pittsburgh Steelers were inhibited this season by their inability to run the football.

Mike Tomlin 's team finished 26th in the league in rushing in 2012, averaging a meager 3.7 yards per carry. It's been a three-year downward tick in Pittsburgh, which finished 14th in 2011 and 11th in 2010.

This will lead to wholesale changes along the line. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote Sunday the team isn't expected to pursue left tackle Max Starks and right guard Ramon Foster as they enter free agency. The team is also expected to cut left guard Willie Colon.

But changes will likely go beyond personnel. Dulac wonders if offensive coordinator Todd Haley and new offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. are heading toward a zone-blocking scheme. Bicknell told the Steelers ' site last week he wants the team to get away from linemen "who get huge and then they can't bend and move." The new preference is players "who can move, run and have the quickness off the ball 'to get into people.' "

Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey is ideally suited for a philosophy shift, as is right guard David DeCastro , the 2012 first-round pick who missed most of his rookie season with a knee injury. According to Dulac, Pouncey and DeCastro "epitomize the long, lean body type the Steelers seek to employ on the offensive line."

The zone-blocking scheme can be extremely effective, but it's not easy to pull off. In an essay from his great book "Smart Football," Chris Brown explained how the scheme requires total committment from a coaching staff and all 11 offensive players. Linemen must be agile, wide receivers and even quarterbacks are expected to block, and running backs need to make correct cut-and-go decisions.

Rashard Mendenhall has the skill-set to thrive in this role ... if the Steelers decide to bring him back (far from a sure thing). Meanwhile, a schematic shift could be bad news for Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman , straight-ahead runners who fit a mold the Steelers could be set to break free of.

Read today that the steelers are goin to a zone blocking team, goodbye to the fat *** slobs, Dwyer, Redman will be gone! Mendy will fit this better so there's a chance they keep him...

I read that as well. It sounds like great news to me. Gilbert to LT, DeCastro LG, Pouncey C, RG (Beachum???), Adams RT (He is a solid run blocker). Our OL just great younger in a hurry, not sure if any of the above are over 23 years old. Now if we can add some depth the OL should be set for 10 years.